Israel enforces its red line

Well, President Barack Obama may have trouble figuring out where his red lines are in Syria, but not so Israel, which launched two air strikes over the weekend aimed at destroying high-powered weapons destined for the Syrian-backed terrorists of Hezbollah.

In doing so, it is attempting to prevent a repeat of the 2006 Lebanese war in which Hezbollah launched missiles from Lebanon into northern Israel and as far south as Haifa.

The weapons targeted in this weekend's raid - the Iranian-built Fatah-110s - are capable of reaching Tel Aviv, which during the '06 war served as a safe haven for tens of thousands of Israelis fleeing their homes in the north.

The Israelis have repeatedly warned that Hezbollah will not be allowed to acquire Syrian chemical weapons, long-range Scud missiles, missiles capable of attacking naval vessels from the coast and Russian anti-aircraft missiles - the latter destroyed during a January air strike. That's their red line.

Israel has also deployed two batteries of its Iron Dome defense system in the north just in case the embattled Assad regime decides to take the air raids somewhat more personally. (Opposition activists reported that 42 Syrian soldiers were killed in the raids.)

The White House, which has done little to combat the lawlessness that threatens to overtake Syria, has at least defended Israel's right to defend itself against the kind of terrorism that virtually surrounds it.

And Israel for its part has maintained an extraordinary level of diplomatic and military calm even as it deals with the "stray" Syrian shells that have been landing in the Golan Heights.

"Alongside readiness and alertness, it's always good to prepare and train - but there are no winds of war," said Maj. Gen. Yair Golan, head of Israel's nort hern command.

Still the contagion that is now Syria is making the region - and the world - a less safe place with every passing day.

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Israel enforces its red line

Well, President Barack Obama may have trouble figuring out where his red lines are in Syria, but not so Israel, which launched two air strikes over the weekend aimed at destroying high-powered